With exam time approaching fast, many of you will start suffering with ‘deadline-dread’ and wonder how you will ever fit in all that revision between now and exam day. Luckily for you, it’s not too late and by following these essential revision tips, you can make the most of whatever time you have remaining.

1) What’s your plan?

With so much to cover in such a short time, it’s essential you think carefully about how, when and what you need to revise. Create a revision timetable, balance your subjects, identify the key topics you need to cover, and write down how many exams you have and when you have them.

2) Don’t leave it until the last minute.

While some students do seem to thrive on last-minute ‘cramming’, it’s widely accepted that for most of us, this is not the best way to approach an exam. Allocate at least 2-3 weeks for each exam you have and begin your revision early enough to avoid any last-minute late nights in the library!

3) Get colourful

Sometimes it helps to be creative when revising – why not try using colours to make your revision more effective? Go through your course texts and highlight the areas that need the most attention in green, yellow and red: Green means “I know this!”, Yellow is “I should practise this”, and Red means “uh-oh – I don’t know this”….tackle these areas first!

4) Don’t waste time

Stop procrastinating and start focusing. Get far away from Facebook, stop rearranging your bedroom, and stop texting your friends telling them how badly you’re going to do in this exam! Stay positive and stay focused!

5) Make a ‘cheat sheet’

Make yourself a ‘cheat sheet’ of key topics, points and ideas that you can quickly refer to when you’re doing your revision. Cheat sheets are great because you can ask a friend to test your knowledge on a subject and you can look over it again before the exam – just remember not to take it into the exam with you!

6) Create a ‘revision environment’

It’s important you get rid of all distractions. Make sure you’re comfortable and can focus on your work. Know the time of day you study best and make sure everyone you live with knows that you need to study so they don’t distract you. If your surroundings still aren’t right then go to the library.

7) Stop panicking

Many students worry to the extent that they end up doing no work! Overexerting your mind and turning your head into a pressure cooker is not wise. Don’t be afraid to take some breaks and give your brain a rest.

8) Stop comparing yourself to others

Worrying that your friends are revising harder than you can be counter-productive. Don’t get stressed if you aren’t spending 24 hours a day in the library or haven’t done all the past papers ninety times like your friends. Stay focused on your own revision plan and let your friends worry about theirs.

9) Ask for help

Revising is hard. It takes a lot of focus and hard-work, and for many students this can be overly stressful and can actually lead to them getting bad grades. Don’t be afraid to ask for support – reach out to your friends and lecturers. In addition to that, WritePass Exam Notes services is there to help you conquer your revision hurdles and help you to be your sharpest on exam day.

For more information on how WritePass can help you to prepare for exam day, click here.